HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Hachimantai Dragon Eye
A mysterious eye that manifests only for two weeks near the top of Mt. Hachimantai in the Tohoku region
Hachimantai DMO Inc.
Kagami-numa is a lake situated near the top of Mt. Hachimantai in Iwate Prefecture. Near the end of May, it begins to thaw, but does so unevenly: the outer portion melts before the center, leaving an island of snow in the middle. This phenomenon, combined with the sunlight above causing the water to reflect the clear, blue sky, makes the lake look startlingly like the eerie eye of a dragon. As such, the Hachimantai Dragon Eye stands as one of the first signs of summer.
Only viewable for a precious two weeks from late May to mid-June, the Dragon Eye is among Hachimantai’s must-see scenery. You can reach it after just a 15-minute stroll up from the summit parking lot, itself readily accessible by car or bus. With good timing and fortune, you too might encounter the azure blue eye of the dragon.
How to get there
From Tokyo Station, take the Tohoku Shinkansen or Akita Shinkansen to Morioka Station (about 2 hours 15 minutes). From Morioka Station, take the JR Hanawa Line to Obuke Station (about 35 minutes). From Obuke Station, take a Northern Iwate Transportation bus to the “Hachimantai Mountain Hotel” bus stop (about 30 minutes).
By car, the Dragon Eye is about 15 minutes from the Matsuo-Hachimantai Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway.
1-509-1 Matsuoyoriki, Hachimantai-shi, Iwate-ken
